title: Residential mobility of populations near UK power lines and implications for childhood leukaemia.
abstract: Epidemiological studies suggest associations between childhood leukaemia and living near high-voltage power lines, but the most obvious potential causative agent, the magnetic fields produced by the power lines, is not supported by laboratory studies or a known mechanism. An alternative hypothesised explanation is if there is greater population mobility near power lines, linking to the findings of Kinlen that population mixing increases leukaemia rates. We used the names recorded in electoral registers to see whether people near power lines move house more often than the population as a whole. We did find variations, but only small ones, and not such as to support the hypothesis.
authors.affiliation: National Grid, 1-3 Strand, London, UK. john.swanson@physics.org
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Swanson
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D007953:Leukemia, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D060526:Magnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011210:Power Plants; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology